Choosing the Right Apartment Dog

Photo Credit: Justin Rudd via WikiMedia

Are you currently looking for a new companion but fear the dog you choose may not be suited for apartment living? Luckily with so many dog breeds out there it is possible to choose the best one suited for this kind of lifestyle. We list the top 20 best apartment dogs:

Chihuahua 11. Pomeranian

Bichon Frise 12. Maltese

Bulldog 13. Pug

Miniature Schnauzer 14. Scottish Terrier

Shih-Tzu 15. Yorkshire Terrier

Basset Hound 16. Beagle

Australian Shepherd 17. Brittany Spaniel

Schipperke 18. Chow Chow

Dachshund 19. Dalmatian

10. Boston Terrier 20. Samoyed

When it comes to selecting the right dog for your apartment there are some things you should be cautious of. Dogs bred to be protectors (such as Dobermans and Rottwilers) may not be the best choices. They often sense people on the street or nearby your building could pose a danger to their owner. Some Terrier breeds can get into trouble when left alone and can easily turn an entire apartment into a disaster area.

Almost any dog can live in an apartment as long as he gets the right kind of exercise to remain stable and happy. It’s important to remember that these apartment breeds listed do tend to have generalized characteristics but can also have varying energy levels within the breed and each particular dog is different.

If you are looking for help narrowing down the list you may just want to ask your apartment manager. Many buildings ban specific breeds, most commonly pit bulls, for various reasons. Weight limits, often varying between 25-50lbs, are also a factor you may need to consider when making the selection.

We leave you with the top questions to ask yourself when considering your future/next apartment companion:

How much time will I be able to spend training my apartment dog to be a good neighbor?

How much exercise is my dog going to need?

Would I be better off with a dog breed that may be less threatening to my neighbors?